Jason Cho originally planned for his Korean fusion eatery Dak & Bop to help his father retire, he said.

But when his father died before construction could begin on the restaurant, Cho said he began to reevaluate his motivations. He said he realized through his spiritual faith the plan was much bigger than him and his family, and widened his perspective to bring pride to Houston's Korean community at-large.

“I've always lived by this kind of mantra, which is you have to do it, because ... failure is like the audition to success,” Cho said. “I'd rather try and fail instead of having doubts about why I did not try.”
Korean-style fried chicken is double fried, making the crispy skin crunchy and thin like glass, Cho said. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
Korean-style fried chicken is double fried, making the crispy skin crunchy and thin like glass, Cho said. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
The background

When Dak & Bop originally opened in 2014, Cho said he was one of the first Korean eateries he knew of in Greater Houston, and one of the very few dining options in the Museum District.

Cho said he decided not to renew his lease at the original Dak & Bop on Binz Street in 2021 because of the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.


In the meantime, he opened a Tanglewood location that fused Korean and Italian cuisine, which he shuttered in late 2023 to focus on revitalizing the flagship space.

“There's a place in my heart for this spot because they’re the ones who gave me a chance,” Cho said of the return.
Loaded kimchi fries ($15) remains a signature item on the Dak & Bop menu. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
Loaded kimchi fries ($15) remain a signature item on the Dak & Bop menu. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
Craving Korean cuisine?

Since fully reopening in February, Dak & Bop has fused Korean, Italian and Latin flavors, and has added traditional Korean dishes to the menu’s mix.

Aside from the double-fried full chicken wings, signature items include loaded kimchi fries and garlic bread stuffed with mascarpone cheese and herbs.
Dak & Bop's garlic bread is made with herb cream, mascarpone, garlic butter and grated parmesan. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
Dak & Bop's garlic bread is made with herb cream, mascarpone, garlic butter and grated parmesan. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
New menu items—such as japchae glass noodles and tteok, a fried rice cake appetizer served with ground beef and Korean barbecue sauce—are two classic Korean dishes meant to give diners a “taste of Seoul.”
Korean dish Japchae ($14) is a new addition to the menu, composed of sweet potato glass noodles, mixed vegetables and mushrooms. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
Korean dish japchae ($14) is a new addition to the menu, composed of sweet potato glass noodles, mixed vegetables and mushrooms. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
“The Korean community may not be as large here than other places, but I am a representative of my Dad and the Korean community in Houston,” Cho said. “I want to be known as ‘one of those’ Korean-American restaurateurs.”